The provision of food and drink to service the body is not often classified as a form of treatment even though without it CURE will become a need of the body. This is how a distinction can be made between hunger and peptic ulcer. The general principle of physical health is therefore: if you properly service the body on a regular basis and meeting its minimum quality needs you will normally be able to PREVENT falling sick carelessly. Thus, the first step to good physical health is proper and sufficient servicing of the body to ordinarily prevent ill health.

Now, the types of food and drink (sources) from which we may be able to keep good health certainly differ. At one level, it is the forms that differ. But we can’t deviate from the quality standard or quality content and the minimum quantity of these to keep the body in
good health. Hence, Muslims need to abide by the following:

  • That their sources of food and drink are permissible, legal, in accordance with the guidance of Allah and His Apostle. Thus, in respect of foods and drinks, the guidance of Allah is…
    “Forbidden for you (for food) are: dead meat, blood (pored forth), the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name other than Allah…(Qur’an 5:3).
    “O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling… are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork…(Qur’an 5:90).
  • That, the means of sourcing the above permissible degrees of foods and drinks is similarly or itself permissible. As a result, income from gambling, robbery, theft, usury (that are all prohibited) have no use for the identity as well as the physical and spiritual health of a Muslim.
  • That, an individual does not live to eat or characterise his eating with gluttony or being filled like one might choose to fuel his automobile. Narrated: Abu Hurairah (r.a) Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W) said: The food for two persons is sufficient for three, and the food for three persons is sufficient for four. Bukhari collection